NHL Wrap: Jagr scores 119th career game-winner

NHL Wrap: Jagr scores 119th career game-winner

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jaromir Jagr became the NHL's leader in game-winning goals, scoring on a second-period breakaway to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.

The 684th goal of Jagr's 20-year NHL career, gave him 119 game-winners, putting him one ahead of Hall of Famer Phil Esposito.

Adam Henrique also scored and Martin Brodeur made 16 saves as the Devils won consecutive games for the first time this season and ended Tampa Bay's three-game winning streak.

Steven Stamkos, who had three goals and four assists last week, scored a power-play goal for Tampa Bay, which had won 5 of 6 in posting the best record in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey, which lost its first seven games of the season, rallied late to beat Boston on Saturday for its second win.

Jagr's third goal of the season came midway through the period when he stripped Martin St. Louis at the Devils' blue line and broke in alone on Ben Bishop, easily the deking the goaltender and scoring into the net (see full recap).

Rangers spoil Vanek's Islanders debutUNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Benoit Pouliot and Ryan McDonagh scored third-period goals, and the New York Rangers rallied for a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

Trailing 2-1 after two periods, McDonagh got the Rangers even at 4:59 with their second power-play goal of the night. Pouliot netted the game-winner off a pass from Carl Hagelin with 6:14 left. Cam Talbot, subbing for No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist, made 22 saves for his second win. He played for the third time in four games.

McDonagh's goal was set up by a penalty for too many men on the ice that had Islanders coach Jack Capuano screaming at the officials.

Cal Clutterbuck and Peter Regin had rallied the Islanders (4-5-3) in the second period after the Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first. Evgeni Nabokov made 21 saves.

The Rangers shut down John Tavares, Frans Nielsen and newcomer Thomas Vanek, who made his Islanders debut two days after he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres.

Chris Kreider scored in the first period for the Rangers, who rebounded after dropping their home opener to Montreal on Monday. The Rangers (4-7) have played all but one game on the road. Talbot made the goals stand up one night after Lundqvist lost 2-0 (see full recap).

Price helps Canadiens squeak past StarsMONTREAL -- Rene Bourque scored in the second period and Carey Price made 26 saves and the Montreal Canadiens downed the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Michael Bournival also scored for Montreal (8-5-0), which has won three of its past four games.

Cody Eakin scored for Dallas (5-6-1), which remained last in the Central Division.

Dallas outshot the Canadiens 27-24.

Both teams had played the night before, with Montreal winning 2-0 in New York and the Stars taking a 4-3 decision in coach Lindy Ruff's return to Buffalo (see full recap).

NHL Notes: Oilers sign star Leon Draisaitl to mega 8-year contract

NHL Notes: Oilers sign star Leon Draisaitl to mega 8-year contract

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers have signed center Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

The extension runs through the 2024-25 season, similar to the eight-year, $100-million extension superstar captain Connor McDavid signed with the team in July.

With the signings, the Oilers are banking on McDavid and Draisaitl providing a potent one-two punch for the team as it looks to build on last season's return to the playoffs after a decade of futility.

Draisaitl, a 21-year-old German, had 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) last season, his third in the NHL.

He finished eighth among NHL scorers, and second on the Oilers behind McDavid.

He led the Oilers in scoring during the 2017 playoffs, posting 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 13 games.

Draisaitl was selected third overall by the Oilers at the 2015 draft (see full story).

Avalanche: Hobey Baker winner Butcher now free agentCollege hockey's top player is an NHL free agent after former University of Denver defenseman Will Butcher allowed a deadline to pass without signing with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche selected Butcher in the fifth round of the 2013 draft and had until Tuesday to sign the Hobey Baker Award winner who led Denver to a national championship in April.

A person with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Butcher already has had discussions with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and NHL-expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The person said Butcher has not yet narrowed his list, and is also talking with other teams.

The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the talks are private.

The Denver Post first reported the three specific teams expressing interest in Butcher (see full story).

Wild: Cullen comes home for 21st NHL seasonThe Minnesota Wild and center Matt Cullen have agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract, bringing him back to his home state for a 21st season in the NHL.

The Wild announced the deal, which includes $700,000 in potential performance bonuses, on Wednesday.

Cullen played the last two years with Pittsburgh, winning consecutive Stanley Cups with the Penguins. He played three seasons for the Wild from 2010-13, his first return to Minnesota since launching his career at Moorhead High School and St. Cloud State.

Cullen, who will turn 41 on Nov. 2, had 13 goals and 18 assists in 72 games in 2016-17 for the Penguins, plus two goals and seven assists in 25 playoff games. He has played in 1,366 career regular season games, the sixth-most among active players (see full story).